Lando Norris has joined Max Verstappen in naming his concerns about the driver’s comfort from within the cockpit of F1 cars. The McLaren star suggested that the FIA needs to address the matter when the new technical regulations come into effect for the 2026 season.
Under the current ground-effect regulations, teams are incentivized to run their cars as low to the ground as possible to maximise performance. This comes with a sacrifice in the area of driver comfort with the individual in the cockpit sometimes subjected to violent bouncing and extreme compression.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Norris said: “Could it be better? And was it better a few years ago with the old cars? 100 per cent. There’s definitely certain people who think it’s not bad and that it used to be worse many years ago and all of this stuff, but I think times have changed.
“I think we do complain sometimes, but certain things are also for good reason, for our own bodies and the safety and health side of things. So I think there’s areas to improve on it for sure.”
The McLaren driver later added: “I think it does need to be improved a little bit – because the teams just make the quickest cars, and then we drive them. There’s certain times when it starts to have a toll. It’s definitely not as bad as what it was two years ago. Things have improved since then, with porpoising and all of this.
“But you still have to run the cars extremely low and stiff, and all of these things. And this takes a toll on you. I struggle a lot with my body and back and all of these things. And I have to do a lot now, which I didn’t have to do a few years ago.
“I wouldn’t say it’s directly because of the car, I think a little of it is just naturally for me I have to work on it, but I think things in the long term need to be improved, especially if I want to be here for many years.”
Norris isn’t the only driver to have issued this plea. Ahead of the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Red Bull ace Verstappen noted: “End of the straight with full load, the impact is too high with the low ride-heights.”
Without intervention from the FIA, the Dutchman didn’t expect the issue to go away on its own either. “We still run very low but I don’t think the 2026 car is going to be any different,” he added.
